Ford UK, Always the Optimist, Enters Mustang GT in MPG Marathon

Throughout its life, the Mustang GT has been called many things, from sexy, to speedy, to downright stupid — but never has it been called a fuel sipper. Ford UK doesn’t seem to care.

For the UK’s annual fuel economy challenge, one of Ford’s entries will be the 410-horse Mustang GT convertible, which is rated for an optimistic 20 miles per gallon in Great Britain.

“The great thing about the MPG Marathon is that it’s as much about driving style as it is about eco vehicles,” said event organizer, Jerry Ramsdale.

“By entering a car like the Mustang and showing the world how much the crew can improve the fuel economy over the standard MPG figure, Ford is demonstrating how even the most performance-oriented of cars can be fuel efficient if driven in a responsible, eco-friendly manner.”

It’s not like Ford is having trouble selling the GT in Blighty – two thirds of the Mustang’s 3,000 UK sales have been optioned with a 5.0-liter V8, making it the nations best selling high-performance car.

“A high power rating need not necessarily mean excessive fuel consumption – as this year’s MPG Marathon is set to demonstrate,” said Kevin Griffin, Ford of Britain sales director.

Staffing the Mustang will be former Ford works rally pairing of Andy Dawson and Andy Marriott, stacking the deck further, the duo previously won the 2012 MPG Marathon piloting a Ford Fiesta ECOnetic 1.6 TDCi.

The pairings are tasked with plotting their own routes to four different checkpoints across the country, including a jog up to Silverstone International. The aim of the MPG Marathon isn’t just an obvious sky-high MPG score, prizes are also awarded for significantly beating the manufacturer’s estimate – which is where the Mustang will look to put on a perception shifting, parsimonious performance.

Based out of Heythrop Park Resort in Oxfordshire, UK, the 2016 MPG Marathon gets underway on October 18.

[Image: Ford Motor Company]